,424
TH E S.A. JEWISH CHRO NICLE.
.June 26th, 1931.m
In and Around t h e Penins ula .
students, was then begun. It was initiated by Dr. J. Mibashan, who is at present in Cape Town on a short holiday and to whom~
as to Mrs. Mibashan, who was also present, Mr. Bloch, in his introductory remarks, ex- tended a hearty welcome. Mr. Bloch also welcomed Mr. D. Cohen, who is on a uhort visit to Cape Town.
Lecture by Mr. Z. A vin.
On Tuesday evening, 16th inst., Mr. Z.
Avin lectured to the Hebrew Circle at the Zionist Hall on " From Mendele to Shalom Asch."
Mr. A. Levin, the President, in his opening address, said that it was our concern to dis- cover the character and value of the new Jewish literature, which was different from the older, but it would be premature to stat(' that the difference was essentially a sign of progress.
One value of the modern Jewish literature with which the lecturer was going to deal was its recalling to mind the immediate past, which while still vivid in the minds of the older generation, was in great measure strange to the younger. The trouble was that the latter could not, or would not, find the time to read, or read hurriedly without gai.ning insight , into the author's mind.
Mr. Avin 5poke of the crisis which reigns in Hebrew literature to-day. There is a lack of classical writers just now when our literature can least dispense with their aid.
Tht> works published have heen a means of widening and improving the old road rather than an extension of it.
Tht author's true function i~ to JHO\ idr Iii 1 eadt•1-. with vi ion, lo giv • tlwm mallf'r for thought, and to point the right mw towards a definite goal. The inspirrcl writrr can express feelings by means of words which he uses as arrows to pi('rc·c·
hh~ reader's heart,
The lecturer attributed thP scarcity of goocl books and the difficulty of creating a modern Hebrew classical literature to the grandeur of the Bible and the works of the Ga-oni1'1 which make later writings insignificant in l'omparison. The literature which is bPi1·
('reatcd to-day is not so much a Jewi· i.
literature as a literature in the Je,\.ish language.
The first to pave the road for the new Jewish literature was Mendele Mocher Sefarim, but he saw his characters through dun-coloured spectacles with the result that the modern reader has not the patience to read him.
Yehudah Leib Gordon's "Jewish Women"
js a work of art but prejudiced.
Mapu in his "Ahavath Zion " proved him- self a true follower of the Bible, but hii:;
later work does not show the artist's skill that Mendele's work does.
Sholom Aleichem portrays the psvcholog·- cal a~pect of the Jewish mind and has giYen us "Tevia der ~ilchiger" besides "Menah( m l\IPndel." HP it was who erected the second milestone on the path of Jewish literature.
The third one was placed on the road by J. L. Peretz, who cast aside the body and occupied himself with analysing the soul.
He is a master artist. His work, like
Mer n e Pr
Shakespeare's '' Ham let " and Goethe's
"Faust," have the some universal, all- Pmbracing appeal as the Bible. He gave the lie to the idea that the Jew is merely a realist without any feeling for mystfrism or phantasy.
Peretz's disciple is Shalom Asch, the difference between him and his teacher being that Peretz is silent, letting his characters talk, whereas Asch is afraid of profaning his characters' sanctity by breaking their silence and talks for them. He is a sceptic as shown in "The Strict Watchman."
Mr. Avin also touched on the works of 'om berg. On the whole he considered Yiddish literature as the " hamlet " type.
HP then went on to tell of the argument be- tween Berdichefsky and Ahad Ha-am con- cerning the necessity for the creation among us of a literature such as other nations have, and explained that in Eretz Yisrael a new road for modern Jewish youth was bein:~
opened up.
After some discussion in which Messrs. G.
T elem and A. Levin took part the meeting closed.
The Zionist Conversazione.
A very successful conversazione was h" J ,i
1n tht> Zionist Hall on Tuesday evening last,
tlllH' ti ft lo i. l y }H'l ~Oil hdng pt c <'Ill.
i Jr. and Mrs. L. Burman were to have act d as host and hoste s but owing to an indis- position on the part of the former, Mr. H.
\J. Bloch presided over the gathering.
:vlr. Getz read the J~wish news of the week after which Miss Fannv Gurland recited a speech from Euripides; " Trojan Women.'' and on being enthusiastically encored, a short humorous sketch.
The main feature of the evening, which was a discussion on the question of Jewish
In his address Dr. Mibashan attempted to answer three essential questions-what has Judaism and the J e\.\ ish people given to the Jewish student, what has the Jewish student given to Judaism, and has the Jewish student done his duty to his nation and national spiritual treasures?
In answer to the first question the speaker pointed out that Judaism had given the Jewish student the right to call his own the oldest, most highly cultured race in existence, and to be a co-operator in a civilisation which had survived with lasting positiYe results to human happiness and the progress of the world.
The Galuth, that calamity to Jewry, was in a way a hlessing in disguise, for in the dark underground cellars in the Eastern European homes Hebrew culture had flourished whilst the storms of persecutions had raged furi- ousl v without. It was in such cellars that the most learned students had been found.
To-day we did not have this type of student but the University student who was not so keen on learning as such but as a means to an end.
In answer to the second question Dr.
Mibashan recalled that it was the Bilu-a few hundred students of the Universities of Kiev, Odessa and Kharkov-who had hoisted the Zionist flag in 1882, pilgrimaged to Pales- tine and founded the first colony there. He mentioned the work of other East European students 1n spr adinCY the principles of Zio11i 111 and in a ·rifi ·inrr thcmselv '" in tllt' Zionist cau<;e_ To-day the situation had ehang-ed. In Eastern Europe the student was
pas~ing throuCYh a crisis. His bread and butter existenl'e was imperilled, his spiritual and mental life hindered by such things as a numerous clausus, anti-Semitic agitations, etc. In Western Europe the etudent was more favoured economically and politically and was too happy to be a good Jew. He feared that Zionism and his patriotism were inl'ompatible.
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In replying to the third question Dr.
Mibashan dealt particularly with the South African student whose lack of interest in Zionism and communal affairs generally he deplored. The people had a right to turn to the student for guidance and leadership. He earnestly trusted that the Jewish student o' South Africa would not fail in his obliga- tions.
Mesm. D. Getz, M. Joffe, .YI. Wolozin ky, Rubik, S. Hurwitz, Z. Avin and B. Mirvish participated in the discussion which foll.owed.
The function was brought to a closf" with the
·inging of Hatikvah.
Farewell to Mr. l\..felach Ravicz.
(Jn Saturday evening, 20th June, a fare- well concert and banquet \\as given to \Ir.
~Ielach Revicz at the l\1inor Zionist Hall h~
the Melach Ravicz Committee. There
,1us a satisfa( tory and cnthu~iastic attend- nncc·. The major port:on of ~he proµ:ramme
\ll1S devoted to musical items. Miss J eEsit>
Zuclrrman rendered several bright piano- fortp solos. Mr. Ralph Koorland ( accorn- panit·d hy his brother) µ:ave a number of violin solm. Mr. Boris Rome deli~htf'd the
"atherinrr ""ith h · s Yiddish folk songs, an cl
r o d .
~!i's Paula Cosay gave charming ren enngs of seYeral popular Yiddi:--:h sonf!s.
Jlr . .\lorri · Alexaucler, K.C., wa~ m Lht•
ehair, and at the outset spoke bridly on :\Ir. Ravicz'f: mission in South Africa.
J.lr. llavicz, after reciting one of his poems, poke on the Jewi--h Folk Schools in Poland ann Lithuania.
Oneg Shabbos Concert.
There \vas a fairly large audience at the annual Oneg Shabbos concert held in the Zionic:;t Hall on Sunday evening last. The programme was a very attractive one and was immensely enjoyed by those present.
Those who contributed items were Miss .les"ir Zuckerman, who needs no introduction as a pianoforte player of very great ability,
~Ir. Boris Rome, who has also delighted Cape Town audiences with his singing on numerous occasions, Mr. M. Natas, whosr recitation was as homorous as ever, and
\lrs. B. Hammerman who also won much applause with her reciting. A violin solo bv :\1r. Koorland was very much appreciated w,hih·t the sketch, " Oneg Shabbos " in whi ~h
\Iessrs. Losman and Reubeni took part, was most successfully staged. Miss Paula Cosay ang delightfully. Other items were a recitation bv Mr. Asher, a monoloQ;ue hv
\Ir. Laden and a recitation by Mr. Losma~.
A most successful concert was brought Lo a close with the E:inging of Hatikvah and God Save the King.
Judean Central Council.
On Sunday, 21st inst., a fairly well attended meeting of the above Council took place in the Zionist Hall.
The Chairman's report revealed that a fair amount of work had been accomplished by the Executive and the various sub-committees since the last Council meeting. The Trea- surer delivered his monthly statement which was followed by the 1930 Young Israel Ball Report, both being adopted after short dis- cussion.
What might be considered an innovation was introduced at this meeting. In order to enhance the interest at Council meetings the Executive decided to institute a series
THE S.A. JEWISH CHRONICLE.
of short lecturettes on Young Israel topic~
to be delivered at each Council meeting. The first of these was delivered on Sunday morn- ing by Mr. M. Horwitz, President of the South African Young Israel Federation, who spoke on Young Israel Problems with special reference to the relations of the Junior with the Senior Federation.
On Sunday evening Mr. E. Kluk visited, on behalf of the Executive, the Wynberg and Claremont Junior Zionist Society and lectured to them on "Trumpeldor, the Jewish National Hero."
Oneg Shabbos.
\1r. Z. Avin \\ill be the speaker at the Onrg Shabbos to Le held in the Zionist Hall lo-morrow afternoon. The subject of ~Ir.
vin's addrec;s will he "The Mystery of Jewiqh Existence.''
Eisteddfod Successes.
The J cwish succe::,::;es obtained in Lhr S. \.
Ei!:tecldfod this week are us follows:-
Class 120a.--( Character national dancin! ---under 6): Huth ShPila Shapiro, bronze me<lal (tied).
Class 127 .- 1 Demi-character dancing- over l 61 : l\1avis Harris, bronze.
Class 129.- -(Eastern dancing- over 16 I :
\Im is Harris, bronze.
Clas~ 12:L- ! Character national dancing - o\er 161: Stanley Ernest \ ictor Kramer.
silver.
Class I l:L--OpPralic clc.mcing- under 12) :Bt>rvl Ka~. /!old (tit'dl; Don•Pn Lathan.
~ilu r: Hay I ir..;l'h, hrn11z1'.
Class 117. -(Classical dancing- under
12 l : Beryl hay and Doreen ~athan, gold:
Ha, Kirsch, siher (tied).
Class 1 I :-t - (Classical daiwing- under 16) : Doreen l\athan, silver.
Class 121. (Character national dancinµ.
-undPr 12) : Freda Fernandez, gold (Lied) ; Beryl Kay, bronze (tied).
Class 125.-(Demi·Character dancin~
under 12): Doreen Nathan, gold; Beryl Kay.
silver (tied).
Class 126. (Demi-character danring-
ll1JC.ler l6): Doreen Nathan, gold (Lied).
Lecture by Miss Ben-Arie.
On Wednesday evening, 1st July, Miss 1\.
Ben-Arie \\ill lecture on " Bible Stories and their Influence on the Jewish Child" at the Zionist Hall. The lecture will be given under the auspices of the Cape Town Hebre\v Circle.
Assisting the Board of Guardians.
On Wednesday afternoon of this week a11 imitation by the · ExecutivP of the Cape Jewish Board of Guardians and Rev. A. P.
Bender was extended to a number of ladie~.;
to tea at the Hotel Assembly. The purpose of the gathering was to put before the ladi<:'s the urgent needs of the Board and to ~eel...
their co-operation in finding ways and means of inaugurating some movement to furnish the Board with the resources that are in"
clispensable to it if it is to continue carryin~
out its many-sided philanthropic activities.
There was a small but representative gathering of ladies present to whom Mr. I.
J. Honikman, the President, at the outse extended a welcome. He quoted figure' showing how the work of the Board had increased and how necessary was the assisL- ance of the ladies.
Rev. A. P. Bender gave a short address.
stating he had no doubt that if the Jewis~1
425
ladies of this town worked as he knew the) could, they would be able to do a great deal towards increasing the revenue of the Board.
Various suggestions were put forward by those present among them being Mrs. P.
vl.
Clouts, Mrs. Frankal, Mrs. M. Smollan and Mrs. M. Gurland.
At the commencement it was decided Lo develop the present efforts of the Commitlcf' in making new subscribers to the Board, all present promising to assist.
Address by Dr. Mibashan.
Dr. J. Miba5han will lecture to the Bnoth Zion Association at the Zionist Hall 011
Thursday, 2nd July. al 3.15 p.m. All an·
im ited.
Social Items.
Rev. A. T. Shrock, B.A .. arrived in Cape Town on VJ on day last by the .s s. "Warwick Castle." \Ir. Shrock. \\ho has n.:cei\ed his lllinist<·r':-- certificate from Jews' College in ton<lon: will be inducted as ministrr of tlw ) t>oville Synagogu<', Johannesburg. on Su11- da). ]nly 5th.
(Jn WPdnesday, 2 lth inst., Mr. Shrod- was married to i\Iiss 1\lilly Shadwt, nl' Holwrl~on, Cap<>.
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*ThP marriagt• took place at Lhf' Cen s Synagogt1t' on Sund,n evening l<L l of i\[iriarn, daughl1•r of \11 and i\.Jr.. II. llur·
\\ ilz, of LPt t'"• to
J
a1 k, :--1111 of i\.I r. and 1\l 1 •:-;. Diamond, of Gouda.
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Congratulation~ are heing exlPnded to l\Jr. and Mr~. T. Abrahamson on the hirth of a daughter.
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Mis Helena Hersman and Miss R. Goldin lPfl on Tuesday for Durban on a holiday .
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*AdvocaLP D. Cohen, of Kimberley, arrived in Cape Town this week on a short visit to his parents. He leaves for Kimberley agai11 during the week-end.
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'\lrs. L. Gradner and daughter left on Tuesday for Ou_dtshoorn on a short holida}.
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ThP marriage-Lakes place in the Raleigh Street Synagogue, Port Elizabeth, on Wednes- day morning, 1st July, of Dr.
J.
A. Tarlie, of Port Elizabeth, formerly of Wynberg, Capt>, to Miss Fanny Waldman, of SomerEel East. Dr. Tarlie is well known to many in the l-'eninsula for his very active interest in the Youth Movement some years back. His s1'rvices on the S.A. Young Israel Federation and on the SJ.A. of the Cape Town Univer-~'iLy \\ere particularly noteworthy.
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Mr. and Mrs. D. Nelson, of Paarl, havt>
received news that their son, Dr. Harry Tel- son, who is at present at the Dublin Univf'r sily. has passed the M.A. and D.Ph. degrees.
\\ ith first places and honours, and that he has heen awarded the Derenzi Prize.
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The wedding takes place in the Great Syna-
~ogue on Tuesday evening, 30th inst. of Connie .daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Woolf Harris, of Cape Town, to Isidore Isaacson, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Isaacson, also of Cape Town. A reception will subsequently
be held ~n the City Hall.
